Most people like to set the scene before they smoke. Maybe they put on a movie, or get their favorite snacks—even if you don’t have time for the bigger preparations like that, the least you can do is put on a little music and vibe. Marijuana has been integrated into creative spaces for as long as it has existed, and as a result, there are a bunch of songs dedicated to celebrating the plant. If you ever want to feel entirely immersed in the cannabis community through music, here’s a list of the best songs about weed:
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Classics
- “If You’re a Viper” by Fats Waller
- “Kaya: by Bob Marley
- “Let’s Go Get Stoned” by Ray Charles
- “Legalize It” by Peter Tosh
- “Rainy Day Women #12 and 35” by Bob Dylan
- “Seeds and Stems Again” by Commander Cody and the Lost Planet Airmen
- “Reefer Man” by Cab Calloway
- “Don’t Step on the Grass, Sam” by Steppenwolf
- “Got To Get You Into My Life” by the Beatles
- “Mary Jane” by Rick James
As you can see from the songs so far, singing and rapping about weed isn’t new. Even with the increased stigma around the plant before legalization efforts took off around the country, one thing America can’t resist is a good song.
Songs like “Let’s Go Get Stoned” reached No. 1 on the R&B charts and reached the top half of the Billboard Hot 100 in 1966, and others found mainstream success as early as the 30s. These early songs about weed often satirized the government’s crackdown on the plant, especially within artist spaces.
Early Legalization Era
Medical marijuana was first legalized in the US in 1996 in California. The 80s and 90s are seen as an iconic time for culture in general, and especially music. As talks of legal use of the plant picked up around this time, iconic songs about cannabis were bound to sprout up. If you’re in search of that pre-Y2K vibe while listening to songs about weed, here are a few songs to queue up.
- “Gin and Juice” by Snoop Dogg
- “Because I Got High” by Afroman
- “Pass Me The Green” by Master P
- “Pass the Kouchie” by The Mighty Diamonds
- “Let’s Get High” by Dr. Dre
- “Let’s Go Get Stoned” by Sublime
- “Hot To Roll A Blunt” by Redman
- “Cheeba Cheeba” by Tone Loc
- “You Don’t Know How It Feels” by Tom Petty
- “Wacky Tobocky” by NRBQ
- “Smoke Two Joints” by The Toy
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Newer Hits
As weed has become a more normal part of life and a less scandalous topic of conversation, artists have continued to make it the topic of their art. You’ve probably heard many of these songs in the past few years, but perhaps you forgot about these culturally defining tunes about the plant.
- “Tree” by Chance the Rapper and Lil Wayne ft. Smino
- “Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die” by Willie Nelson with Snoop Dogg, Kris Kristofferson, and Jamey Johnson
- “Broccoli” by DRAM
- “James Joint” by Rihanna
- “Habits (Stay High” by Tove Lo
- “Still Blazin” by Wiz Khalifa
- “Tryna Smoke” by Jhene Aika
- “High” by Big Sean
- “Kush” by Lil Wayne
- “Medication” by Damian Marley
Next time you start to roll up or have friends over to indulge in the plant, refer back to this list for the perfect songs to get a good laugh, sit back, and set the vibe of the night.